When I first started domaining I picked my way through different drop lists and made up my very own way of catching domain names. I knew there was no way to compete with the big drop catchers and there still isn’t a way.

I figured looking through "Available" domain lists was not the best since the lists were SO huge and I never really was able to find that many domains that I thought were worth picking up. Another problem that I found when registering domains through Available domain lists, was the Instant Purchase felling that I got. If you see a domain that is available and you think it’s good that second, you have to buy it or it will be gone. At least that’s the feeling most would get. That can be a problem, because it doesn’t give you a chance to research or even think about the purchase beyond the couple seconds of seeing it, checking availablity etc. It’s simply an impulse buy on a gut feeling.

So I wanted to be able to take my time and see better domains. I wanted to see lists of domains that drop catchers were getting since they were registrars with much better resources and figure out what they were doing with the domains.

After making lists of domains that I liked, I tracked them. I watched the whois and noticed most were getting dropped again 4 or 5 days later from their creation date. Well these are now known by most as Tasted Domains.

IMO, there are two different kinds of tasted domains.

1. A domain is registered and parked for up to 96 hours. Based on traffic and earnings, the owner decides if the domain is worth keeping solely based on traffic stats and revenue.
2. A domain is registered for resale purpose only and not guaged on traffic/revenue or keyword strength. Basically run through public auction for resale!

If you catch a domain After the first entity does, the domain would be considered a 2nd tier tasted drop. Now the biggest factor in which domains you go after is key! You want to find the entity that grabs domains for resale and which one grabs the Most domains. The reason behind this is because they do not look at domains based on keyword quality. Due to the massive amounts of domain names listed for resale, some good ones get lost in the mix. It’s like finding a needle in the haystack on these reseller platforms. If the domain doesn’t sell, they simply drop the domain and it becomes a 2nd teir drop.

So the cycle would go like this.

1. Domain is registered and used by it’s orginal owner and not renewed.
2. The domain goes through the expired process and hits Pending Delete.
3. After deleting from the registry, the domain is registered the millisecond it get’s released by a registrar. Also known as 1st teir drops. (mainly .com & .net domains)
4. This is the point when the 2 types of tasting takes effect. (stated above) I think the #2 domains are the best to go after.
5. The auction runs and the domain is lost in the mix and gets no bids at public auction or the domain is tasted for traffic/revenue.
6. If no bids (#2) or no traffic/revenue (#1) The domain get’s deleted (2nd tier drop) so the entity get’s refunded for the domain.
7. 2nd tier drop catcher grabs the domain. (You want to be this person, but be selective on the domain(s) you go after. You should want to Keep the domain(s) not taste them!
8. The domain can be deleted and registered again and follow this process several times before an entity keeps it or just becomes available for good. Most domains in the Available lists, were tasted many times and is another reason I do not like those lists.

Well, this process that I stated above use to be my main source of my domain purchases. It made me money, it was FUN but does take a little time and smarts. The biggest factor, it was FUN and I want to have some more FUN domaining!! When you are having FUN, it makes everything better and it seems good things happen. I am hitting the 2nd tier drop market again, because I want to have some more FUN domaining.

It is a rush when you are constantly checking to see if the domain(s) is/are available and as one pop’s up as available and you register it the second it is, it’s a rush. I perfer to do it the Old School way and do it by hand. No software!

If you have a dedicated list (1-20 domains), your chance is much greater then a software program that is going for 100’s or even thousands of domain names.

Today I had some FUN again and captured some 2nd tier drops. I won’t become a millionaire overnight with my 2nd tier drops, but I WILL and DO make money with them and have lots of FUN capturing them. Several I have sold in the four figure range over the years and most I can get $50-$500 for. If you couldn’t tell already, I am having FUN Again domaining and I love it!